Cricket: Buttler Prioritizes England ODIs Over IPL Playoffs

Jos Buttler will skip the Indian Premier League play-offs if Gujarat Titans qualify so he can play a full part in England’s one-day and T20 series against West Indies.

The former captain is one of five players named in the England one-day squad who are in the IPL.

The rescheduling of the IPL amid political tension between India and Pakistan means the latter stages clash with England’s series.

The IPL resumes on Saturday. The play-offs begin on 29 May and the final is on 3 June.

Wicketkeeper Buttler will travel to India for the conclusion of the group stage before returning to England for the first ODI on 29 May.

All-rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, who play for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians respectively, are expected to do the same.

Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, the two other IPL players in England’s ODI squad, are not expected to return to India as their franchises cannot qualify for the play-offs.

England play West Indies in three ODIs before a three-match T20 series starts on 6 June.

The Titans, who are top of the IPL with three matches left, need only one win to guarantee a play-off spot.

Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis appears set be signed by the Titans as Buttler’s replacement. Their final group match is on 25 May.

Second-placed Royal Challengers also need to win one of their three remaining matches to qualify.

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone and wicketkeeper Phil Salt have also returned to RCB for the IPL’s restart.

Livingstone has been dropped by England and Salt features only in the T20 squad.

The ODI series is England’s first since Harry Brook replaced Jos Buttler as captain.

Bbc.com